Antiskid and traction device



Jan. 5, 1937. s, MECKLER 2,066,412

ANTISKID AND TRACTION DEVICE Filed Dec. 4, 1935 HE m Patented Jan. 5, 1937 umrlao STATES PATENT- OFFICE 1 2,066,412 ANTISKID AND TRACTION DEVICE Samuel Meckler, PatihMinn. Application December 4, 1935, Serial No. 52,315 2C1aims. (01. 152-14) My invention relates to a device adapted to be placed on motor vehicle Wheels and may be termed either an emergency traction device or a non-skid device its main use being during un- 5 favorable road conditions such as when there is ice, deep snow or mud on or through which a motor vehicle must pass.

The main object is to provide a simple, highly efiicient and inexpensive non-skid traction attachment for use on motor vehicle tires.

In the accompanying drawing:--

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle wheel and one of my traction devices in operative position thereon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view as on line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of the upper central part of Fig. 1 or in other words a face view of the traction device on a tire. Fig. 4 is a modification of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal 20 sectional View of the traction plate of my device as on line 5-5 in Fig. 3. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a side, top and bottom View of a modified form of traction lug or tooth which may be used on either of the preferred forms of traction plates shown.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, like characters designating similar parts throughout the several views, 9 designates an auto wheel and I is the tire shown as a pneu- 30 matic tire but may be any kind of tire. ll designates what I prefer to call a tread plate comprising a rectangular piece of sheet metal bearing longitudinally on the tread IDT of the tire and is of dished or shallow concaved formation 35 to lie snugly on the tread or in other words it is shaped to conform to the face of the tire tread. This plate is preferably of spring sheet metal.

The tread plate may be of any desired length, preferably not over six inches, and is held in close contact with the tire tread as follows:

For the rectangular form of tread plate ll shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, I provide a pair of fiat bar U-members l2, each fixed to the plate transversely near an end of the plate and. both positioned to simultaneously straddle a tire, as in Fig. 2, their arms extending radially toward the center of the wheel and terminating just inwardly of the widest part of the tire. Said arms may also be simply integral parts of the plate. The two ends of each pair of arms are connected by a chain It in which is a compression spring l4 near one end and at the other end is a snap hook l to removably engage a ring IE or the like. The spring members l4 may be of other design than that shown but in any case the length of chain spring and snap hook is such that the spring keeps considerable tension in the chain when the latter is passed under the wheel spaced calks 58-48 each with a shank securable in anaperture ll preferably by riveting at the under side of the plate. The apertures may be round or polygonal to retain correspondingly shaped shanks 188 of the calk or oleat members, said calks in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 shown as being of conical form and designated l8. In Figs. 4, 6, 7 and 8 the cleats are shown in modified form and designated I8 each cleat having two integrally formed and outwardly directed tapered and fiat teeth l8". Other forms of traction calk may be used but in any case are tapered upwardly to prevent accumulation of mud, snow or ice on or between the calks.

In any form of the tread plate it is preferred that its perimetral edge be rounded, or beaded as at HB in Fig. 5.

In the modification Fig. 4, the tread plate II is shown about square and retained on the tread of the tire with its outer edges diagonal thus presenting two rounded corners longitudinally on the tread and two rounded corners at the opposite edges of the tire tread. A single Wide U-band is used to retain this simpler and smaller form of tread plate on the tire, the free ends of the single U-band arms being connected as above described. In place of the said single U-band the tread plate itself may be formed with a pair of integral extension arms.

It will be readily understood that in either form of this device, and when the wheel rotates to a position where the traction plate contacts the ground, the tire is flattened momentarily because of weight on it. With my type of traction plate of flexible sheet metal the plate under said condition of the tire flattens out also or springs to conform to the momentary distortion, then springs back to its normal, original position as the tire goes on to normal condition. Obviously the momentary flattening of the tire and plate moves the arms or arm l2 radially and there is slack in the chain or chains l3. However this slack is absorbed in the yieldable spring [4 retaining the chain in taut condition and this device is in use.

"example, a car gets mired up 'to its "hubs it is The cleats of my device are preferably riveted on to the tread plate, the riveting being as fiat as possible or the apertures I! may be countersunk. The proportions of the cleats is optional but preferably not large and in the case of conical calks as in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 they are preferably round ed considerably at the tips, asbestshown in Fig. 5.

Obviously the springy action of the tread: plate both as'to transverse and lateral action and the outwardly tapered form of all types of the cleats provides a condition where there is no possibility of accumulation of snow, ice, etc.', on the tread plate. The'double arm type of mytractiondevice parts: adjacent the tire, said cleats comprising arms I! may be integral of the tread plate H in either the double arm or single arm types.

'I claim:

1. An emergency traction device for motor vehicle wheels, said device comprising a quadrangular flexible plate of shallow arcuate formation a longitudinally and transversely to fit snugly the is put on a tire as shown in Fig. 1 with the plate about centrally of and radially outwardjoi a. spoke of the wheel so that one chaincanbe passed across the wheel felly 9F at each side of the spoke The adaptability of my device isclear. If, for

possible toa'ttach one or moreo'f these devices onthe upperpart of the drive wheels and then have sufiicient traction to-pull out of the mire.

Any suitable number of these devices may be put on auto wheels according to weather and road conditions. For muddy or snow covered roads it may be best to have the traction devices closely spaced so thatat least one-device is in actionflat "all'times.

Modifications may-be made in various details,

proportions and arrangement of parts within the "scope of the following-claims; as for example, the

center to straddle a tirein pairs, traction cleats :on said tread plate in predetermined spaced relation, and a removable tension device connecting the'ann meinbers and engaging the wheel rim each a double edged tooth one edge of which is offset -relationwo the other, both edges being parallel;

2'. In a non-skid traction device for motor veconnecting the said flexible means under tension tothe other'extension arm ot the plate, and a number of double edged calks' suitably fixedr on the outeriace oi' thejplate, eachcalk-tapered:

outwardly to-anhouter' elongated road contacting SAMUEL MECHJER".

edge, said pair of edges-parallel but in ofisetrela- 7 tion to eachother, for the purpose set forth. 

